What Cong said about conditions imposed by Manipur Govt while giving permission for Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Manipur government has given permission to flag off Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' starting from Imphal with limited number of participants.

In a meeting of Congress leaders with the state Chief Secretary and other top officials on Thursday morning, the administration verbally said that only one thousand people would participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Yatra.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President Meghachandra Singh told the media, "Actually the government wants to flop our yatra. That is why it is putting such conditions regarding the permission related to this yatra."

Meghchandra Singh said, "The order issued by the office of Imphal East District Magistrate regarding this yatra has said that only a limited number of people will participate in it. Whereas the Chief Secretary has asked only one thousand people to participate. We have not accepted these terms."

'We will launch the yatra from Thoubal instead of Imphal'

Singh said, "Three hundred big leaders from outside the state will come to the inaugural ceremony of this yatra. Besides, there will be more than 500 workers of Congress Seva Dal alone. So, how is it possible to limit the number of participants. We are not planning this yatra in view of these conditions. We will launch the yatra from a private ground in Thoubal district instead of Imphal.

Manipur Congress leaders had on Wednesday claimed that Chief Minister N Biren Singh had refused permission to Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' starting from Imphal, citing the current situation in the state.

However, at present there has been no reaction of any kind from Chief Minister N Biren Singh or his government in this matter.

'A huge crowd is expected at the venue'

The order of the Imphal East District Magistrate's office regarding this yatra states, "To prevent any untoward incident and law and order disturbance, permission is given to flag off the yatra with a limited number of participants on January 14."

The order further says, "The Imphal East DSP has submitted a report stating that a huge crowd is expected at the venue during the inaugural ceremony of the Yatra, which may create problems considering the prevailing law and order situation in the state. Further, prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC are also in force in Imphal East district."

Congress said in a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday that the yatra will start as per plan. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal had said that this is not a political journey and the party is also preparing for the Lok Sabha elections along with it.

This yatra of Rahul Gandhi is going to start from Imphal, the capital of Manipur, on January 14 and pass through parts of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.

During this, Rahul Gandhi will cover a distance of 6,700 kilometers from east to west in 66 days across 15 states and 110 districts. This yatra is to conclude on March 20 in Mumbai.